The Bowls Development Alliance (BDA) is delighted to announce that the English Short Mat Bowling Association (ESMBA), the English Bowling Federation (EBF) and the British Crown Green Bowls Association (BCGBA) are to join the Safeguarding Bowls group alongside Bowls England (BE) and the English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA) under the umbrella of the BDA to ensure that the sport is kept safe for everyone to play.

This will mean that the five National Governing Bodies and their affiliated members will follow the same policy, guidelines and templates which will be available to all clubs regardless of which format is played.

County and Club Welfare Officers across the various codes will be able to access training to support them in their role and provide them with knowledge and information on any action they would need to take if a concern was raised within their club.

Susan Cooper the Development Director of the BDA commented:

“The sport of bowls can now work together to secure the Advanced Safeguarding Standards and in so doing will go some way to keeping all those who participate in this sport safe in what they do and wherever they play”

This is a big step forward for the sport and has been welcomed by both Sport England and the NSPCC

At the recent BCGBA rules revision meeting on Saturday 20th January 2018 it was passed that every club should have a named Safeguarding Officer who holds a current DBS. Failure to comply will result in an appropriate penalty.’

Cheshire County Bowling Association intends to be at the forefront of this iniative by organising Safeguard Training for all of our affiliated clubs. Every club needs to comply with this Safeguarding rule by 1st March2019 and Cheshire County Bowling Association led by our Safeguarding Officer Yvette Gregory will offering support to each and every club.

The Safeguarding Training Workshop will take approximately two hours at a cost of £16 per person, this includes a small surcharge to cover the cost of the hire of the venue.

The Safeguarding Training Workshop`s will be hosted by the CCBA Safeguarding Officer Mrs Yvette Gregory.

It is hoped that affiliated Cheshire Leagues will be able to organise Training Workshops within their own boundaries to reduce travelling and costs to individuals.

Please note below a link to download a Microsoft Document version of the Safeguarding policy, a link to the Safeguarding Website, and a link to the contact page where Cheshire County Bowling Association will be able to answer your Safeguarding questions.

It is no doubt that due to the size of the Cheshire County Bowling Association it will not be easy to reach our goal of 100% completion for all our clubs to have a Safeguarding Officer, but we feel confident with everyone`s drive and committment we will succeed.